Mary McCormack

Mary Catherine McCormack was born on February 8, 1969, in Plainfield, New Jersey. She began her acting career at age 12, performing in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Christmas opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” McCormack pursued her education at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where she majored in English and painting. She continued her stage work in musicals and completed an acting program at the William Esper Studio. Early in her career, she also performed in New York theaters, including The Atlantic Theatre Company, Alice’s 4th Floor, and Naked Angels, where she appeared in Jon Robin Baitz’s “A Fair Country.”

McCormack gained wider recognition through her television roles, including Justine Appleton on the series “Murder One” (1995–1997) and Kate Harper on “The West Wing” (2004–2006). A significant turning point in her career was her lead role as Deputy U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon in the USA Network series “In Plain Sight” (2008–2012), a role for which she also served as a producer and writer. Her film career includes performances in notable productions such as “Private Parts” (1997), “Deep Impact” (1998), “K-PAX” (2001), and “1408” (2007).

Beyond her acting, McCormack has expanded into production. She is an executive producer for the game show “25 Words or Less” (2018–present) where she also frequently appears as a celebrity panelist. Her recent work includes starring as Peggy Cleary in the ABC sitcom “The Kids Are Alright” (2018–2019) and Willie Day in the Starz drama “Heels” (2021–2023). She has been nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her role in “Boeing Boeing” (2008).